Skin-whitening cosmetic composition containing rosemary-derived verbenone as active ingredient

Abstract

The present invention relates to a skin whitening cosmetic composition comprising verbenone as an active ingredient or a pharmaceutical composition for treating or preventing skin pigmentation disorders.

1 . A skin whitening cosmetic composition comprising verbenone as an active ingredient. 
     
     
         2 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the verbenone is derived from rosemary. 
     
     
         3 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein skin whitening is achieved by inhibiting tyrosinase protein expression or melanin production. 
     
     
         4 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the content of the verbenone is 0.0001 to 10% by weight based on the total weight of the composition. 
     
     
         5 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition is a formulation selected from the group consisting of a skin ointment, a cream, an emollient, a nutrition toner, a face pack, an essence, a hair tonic, a shampoo, a hair rinse, a hair conditioner, a hair treatment, a gel, a skin lotion, a skin softener, a skin toner, an astringent, a lotion, a milk lotion, a moisture lotion, a nutrition lotion, a massage cream, a nutrition cream, a moisture cream, a hand cream, a foundation, a nutrition essence, a sunscreen, a soap, a cleansing foam, a cleansing lotion, a cleansing cream, a body lotion and a body cleanser. 
     
     
         6 . A pharmaceutical composition for treating or preventing skin pigmentation disorders comprising verbenone as an active ingredient. 
     
     
         7 . The composition according to  claim 6 , wherein the verbenone is derived from rosemary. 
     
     
         8 . The composition according to  claim 6 , wherein the skin pigmentation disorders locally occur on skin due to increased synthesis of melanin pigment, and are one or more disorders selected from melasma, freckles, lentigines, nevi, drug-induced pigmentation, pigmentation following inflammation, and hyperpigmentation caused by dermatitis. 
     
     
         9 . The composition according to  claim 6 , wherein treatment or prevention of the skin pigmentation disorders are achieved by inhibiting tyrosinase protein expression or melanin production. 
     
     
         10 . The composition according to  claim 6 , wherein the content of the verbenone is 0.0001 to 10% by weight based on the total weight of the composition. 
     
     
         11 . The composition according to  claim 6 , wherein the composition is formulated into cream, gel, patch, spray, ointment, plaster, lotion, liniment, paste or cataplasma. 
     
     
         12 . A food composition for skin whitening comprising verbenone as an active ingredient. 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A method of skin whitening, the method comprising applying verbenone and a pharmaceutically or cosmetically acceptable carrier on a subject with skin pigmentation disorders in need of skin whitening. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the verbenone is derived from rosemary. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the skin pigmentation disorders locally occur on skin due to increased synthesis of melanin pigment, and are one or more disorders selected from melasma, freckles, lentigines, nevi, drug-induced pigmentation, pigmentation following inflammation, and hyperpigmentation caused by dermatitis. 
     
     
         17 . A method of treating or preventing skin pigmentation disorders, the method comprising applying verbenone and a pharmaceutically or cosmetically acceptable carrier on a subject in need of treatment or prevention of skin pigmentation disorders. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the verbenone is derived from rosemary. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the skin pigmentation disorders locally occur on skin due to increased synthesis of melanin pigment, and are one or more disorders selected from melasma, freckles, lentigines, nevi, drug-induced pigmentation, pigmentation following inflammation, and hyperpigmentation caused by dermatitis.